Sale Sharks vs Castleford Tigers in legal dispute
IT’S not a B-list movie, but it sounds like one, as the Castleford’s Tigers go head-to-head against the Sale Sharks in a legal dispute over one player’s switch from Union to League.
The case centres around Denny Solomona, a New Zealand-born player, who, along with his new club the Sale Sharks and his agent Andy Clark, are being sued for damages by the Castleford Tigers at the High Court in Leeds.
Solomona joined the Tigers in 2014 after moving from the London Broncos following their relegation, tying him into a four-year contract.
He scored 42 tries last season and broke the Super League try scoring record in the 2016 season.
But Solomona joined Sale in a cross-code deal that will see him at the rugby union club for three years. He did not report in for pre-season and resigned from rugby league despite having two more years on his contract.
He is being sued along with his agent for breach of contract, seeking exemplary damages against Sale Sharks Ltd and Solomona’s agent Andrew Clark for inducing this breach of contract.
Sale said the incident was being “blown out of proportion”.
Steve Gill, Castleford Tigers chief executive officer said: “In August this year we made it very clear to Solomona & to Sale Sharks that there was an unbreakable contract in place until the end of season 2018 with no basis whatsoever for either ourselves or Solomona to depart from each other’s mutual obligations. The idea of losing the player was not welcomed by us and we have repeatedly told Sale Sharks that it would be impermissible for them to talk to Solomona let alone sign him. Clear unequivocal warnings have clearly been disregarded.
“The proceedings have been issued as a last resort having failed over the last couple of weeks to try and resolve matters without the formality of court proceedings. We have confidence that the legal system will bring out all of the facts and the truth. We are fighting this not just for Castleford Tigers but also for the integrity of all sports including of course Rugby Union clubs. Our belief is that all contracts are sacrosanct in professional & amateur sports.”
Sale director of rugby Steve Diamond told BBC Sport: “I’ve never wanted this event to happen and get dragged into the mud of a rugby union versus rugby league battle.
“It is a player, who is a good player, who became available and we’ve gone ‘right, he will fit in to what we’re trying to do over the next five years’.
“The legal ramifications I am pretty sure will sort themselves out.
“I think in all honesty the situation has been blown out of proportion and these things happen in sport.
“There are two sides to all stories. I can say from day one that Sale have acted in the best interests of Sale and done everything legitimately.”
